MedLogic is a chemical company based in Plymouth which produces cyanoacrylate-based medical adhesives. It was acquired in 2002 by the Advanced Medical Solutions Group or AMS (also UK-based) thus becoming part of a 400 people group that develops leading edge technology in the wound care market. MedLogic's brand for biomedical cyanoacrylate adhesives called LiquiBand® is one of the major players in this market. Not surprisingly, MedLogic is also owner of numerous patents on this topic, some of which are listed here below.
MedLogic has addressed most biomedical applications that exist for cyanoacrylates in its patents. Namely intact and irritated skin protection, superficial non-sterilized wound closure, and draping and peripheral draping of surgical incision sites. Patents describing cyanoacrylate formulations containing soluble and insoluble antimicrobial agents and antibiotics were also issued.
Draping of a surgical incision site was developed to prevent wound infection from endogenous sources and airborne microbes. After application of antimicrobial agents, which reduce but never fully sterilized the surgical site, a surgical drape should trap microbes left of the skin preventing them from contaminating the incision. Such drapes, that are traditionally polymeric pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) films containing antimicrobial agents in their formulation, have proved successful only in some surgical operations (e.g. abdomen operations).
The problems associated with such products are:
- Wrinkles and air pockets that provide a source of microbes and are essentially irreversible unless drape is removed and replaced - Poorly compatible with areas such as knees, hips, elbows and so on - Poor adhesion to hair limiting possible applications - Removal of drape after surgery can potentially irritate or damage incision and periphery - Does not provide postoperative antimicrobial effect, time during which the surgical site is still vulnerable of infection
An alternative to PSA film that was developed to counter some of these issues was a film-forming emulsion containing a volatile solvent, a polymer, and an antimicrobial agent (see US4978527). However the poor adhesion of the polymer film resulting after solvent evaporation as well as the skin irritation that can be caused by the solvent, make this a product that is still not optimal.
In response to the problems listed above many companies, such as MedLogic, Kimberly Clark and ours, have developed cyanoacrylate-based drapes. These are applied in their monomeric form by the use of a sponge-terminated container. In situ polymerization takes between 10 and 60 seconds, time after which a flexible polymeric film is formed with bacteriostatic and bactericidal characteristics. Further advantages are versatility (the film can be created over any skin contour), and post-surgical infection protection: the bond created between the cyanoacrylate and the skin makes their separation effectively impossible (unless solvent is used) and is naturally shed from the skin surface 1-4 days after application.
The potential of these technologies in the operating room as well as at home is apparent, and we expect many further developments to be seen in the future.
